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Early Detection Saved My Life

I was one of those women that feared mamograms. I had not had one in twenty years! I heard of a free breast cancer screening. Something just kept telling me that maybe I should go get a mamo since it had been so long.
So, I went to the free screening. The mamo showed something suspicious. I was sent for an ultrasound. The ultrasound
showed a cluster of granules that could not be felt. Not a lump like most people have.

I had a MRI and a biopsy. A few days later on June 8, 2010 I was told that I had breast cancer: lobular incitu, ductal incitu and ductal invasive carcinoma!!!

I had a lumpectomy. No cancer in the lymph nodes, no chemo . I did have radiation and 5 years on Tamoxafin .

I am happy to say that "I am a 3 year survivor"!!! If I had not gotten that mamogram, I may not be here today.
Early detection saved my life!!!

Glenda Vines
Denham Springs, LA

I Am Winning!!!!

My journey with breast cancer began April 27, 2013 when I was diagnosed with stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer at age 45. I had felt a lump in my right breast in March. The mammogram that verified the tumor was there, was my first. There was no history of breast cancer in my family, so I felt pretty safe. I was so very wrong!!

The word “cancer” was scary to hear, but my husband and I knew immediately that we needed to tackle it aggressively and with a positive attitude. We have been open and honest with our network of family and friends. I can’t explain what it has meant to have the support of this extraordinary group of people. Their thoughts, visits, prayers, gifts, meals and words of encouragement have made such a difference in my fight! We can never thank them enough.

Most important has been the loving care and support from my parents, husband and 6 year old son, Nathan. This has become their journey and story as well. We have survived 6 rounds of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy and soon, 28 rounds of radiation.

It isn’t my choice, but it is my fight…and I am winning.

Renee
Mandeville, LA

Surviver

I was diagnosed Stage 3 breast cancer in
october 2007. hat Operation, chemo, hormone, radiation and antybody Therapie.
now After 6 years I am still cancer free.
it was a hard year with all those therapies but I would definitly go through it again if necessary.
since One year I have a pink Ribbon tattoo, which will be perfectioned in December.

when it's done I'll post a pic

I pray for all women and men who are currently fighting and say:
Never stop fighting and hoping.

Marie Christine
Leonding, Austria

My journey

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on October 2012, on November 15,2012 was my surgery. January 7,2013 start with radiation until February 20, 2013. Now I'm on tamoxifen for the next 5 years. This journey is not easy but I'm alive and happy. My mom died 7 years ago from breast cancer too. Early detection save life.... Believe !!!

Wanda Torres
Reading, PA

3 Famous chicks

If you don't know about our story from the Aussie magazine New Idea then I must tell you.
My name is Narelle, I have an older sister Michelle and our mum is Annette and this year we have all battled breast cancer together. Mich was diagnosed in December 2012, I was diagnosed in January 2013 and mum in February. Mich and I have done 6 months of chemo and so far I have had a lumpectomy and she has had a single mastectomy and radiation. Mum was the lucky one needing only surgery but chose to have a preventative double mastectomy following her lumpectomy. Mich and tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation and will have a complete mastectomies and reconstruction surgery and eventually oopherectomies. We are not saddened by our journeys this year, we are happy for all the knowledge we have acquired to help make our lives long, healthy and happy.

Narelle Denning
Ocean Grove, Australia

JODI LYNN, MY BRAVE DAUGHTER....

Last month, I heard my husband talking on the phone in his office for a long time. It was our 43 year old daughter, Jodi Lynn, who lives in
Sacramento, CA. We live between in Ft. Worth, TX. He held his hand on his cell phone
and looked at me and said, "the news is not good", but she has taken care of it. He said, please don't cry when you
talk to her. I took his cell phone and said "Hi, Sweetie-how are you"? She said "Mom, I my mammogram didn't come
out too good, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She added, "it was in the beginning stage, and I already had the
surgery and radiation". I held back my tears and asked her why she didn't tell me. She said: "Mom, I know how
emotional you are, so I went forward and didn't want to tell you, because you have to have surgery soon. Shaun (her
brother) was there for her, as was her husband, Jeff.

I told her to do whatever her doctor says. She said that he wanted to take pills, but she doesn't want to. This made me
sad. Jodi has two daughters.

When I hung up the phone, I broke down and cried - she kept it from me because I was ill and I get very emotional.

Please pray that Jodi is in full remission.

God bless and thank you,
Jo

Jo Johnson
Trophy Club, TX

Never Too Young To Get It

My partner discovered a small lump on my right breast and sent me to the doctor right away. I worked at a casino in Reno Nevada. I was 21 years old. We had excellent medical coverage. The doctors did a mamogram right away and said they would call me next week. I got a call that same afternoon telling me to come in the next morning. I suddenly got scared because they wanted me back right away! I went in and the young doctor was very nice and told me he was going to remove the lump and would take as little tissue as possible, but if he needed to take more (or the whole breast) he would wake me up first and talk to me about it. He never mentioned the "C" word. I was scheduled for surgery the next day. He asked me if I had any children and did I have a reliable "female" person to take care of them while I was recovering. He was concerned and wanted to be sure they would be safe while I was in the hospital. He was extremely caring. When I woke from surgery the next day he was there reassuring me that everything was fine and "the margins were free and clear". I did not need any follow up treatment. I had a drain tube in my breast for a few days. Most people can't tell my right breast is slightly smaller than the left. Soon I went back to work and I was fine. But I always remembered that caring doctor that took care of me. About 11 years later I was feeling really bad for several months and finally went for a check-up with my mother to her doctor in the Oakland Bay area. A pap smear showed carcinoma- in- situ. I had cancer again! After a vaginal hysterectomy I recovered quickly and felt better than ever, no longer hemorrhaging every month with horrible cramps. That was about 22 years ago and so far so good! I believe early detection is the key to recovery. Get checked!

Donna
Los Banos, CA

Dance in the Rain

After several years of being called back for ultrasounds after my mammograms, I began to think it was just routine. However, nothing was routine about the last ultrasound when the radiologist started looking at the lymph nodes under my arm. As an RN I knew that something wasn't right. We scheduled a biopsy for the next week and my husband was going to be out of town. I asked my 2 best friends if either of them were available and both said yes! My husbands schedule changed so they all decided we would go as a group. So blessed to have crazy loving people in my life!
The news came back as invasive grade 3 breast-cancer with lymph node involvement. So at the age of 46 this meant chemo, mastectomies, radiation, failed reconstruction and a world-wind of tests & appointments.
But before all that began I felt led do a photo shoot with one of those friends just eight days after cancer diagnosis. (She had a vision of me in the rain.) It was a way for me to express hope, positive determination and that in the midst of the storm we can all Dance in the Rain!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYuIM6ylQs#

My faith, family and friends have been there thru all the ups and downs and I am now apart of a sisterhood that is truly Beautiful!!

Be Blessed and Bless one another!!

Ginger Pillar
Pittsburgh, PA

My Story About Vickie

Ten years ago, I married my best friend. My second "date" with him was to a fundraiser for his sister, Vickie, who had breast cancer. It was then I met his family for the first time. Vickie was such a special woman. From the first time I met her, it seemed as though I had known her all my life. She certainly touched the hearts of all who knew her and everyone loved her. She was a Christian lady and her love of the Lord showed in her countenance. While she was in treatment her Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a 5 year plus survivor. However, the breast cancer overtook Vickie and the Lord called her home on her Mother's birthday! Vickie was only 42 years old. The entire family, from the youngest to the oldest, participate in breast cancer awareness projects; 5K runs, locks of love, etc. And Vickie's memory lives on in all of us. Right before she passed, Vickie spoke to every one in the family, again, to her Mother, her siblings, husband, sons, nieces and nephews, and in-laws and asked something of each of us. All of us honor her memory by doing those things as asked. We don't always understand the ways of the Lord; 2 years later the Lord called her husband home. During those 2 years, he simply couldn't live without her. He died from a massive heart attack and it is my belief he died from a broken heart. They left behind 3 sons; the oldest was married & had their first child and there were 2 younger sons still in school. The oldest son was granted custody of his 2 brothers and has done a wonderful job of raising them. They both graduated from high school, have good jobs, and both are married. The oldest son was left with a heavy "burden"; he & his wife being a young couple themselves. But he wouldn't have had it any other way. God has blessed all of us in many ways through the devastion of losing both Vickie & Dale.

Sandra L. Sprinkle
South Portsmouth, KY

Angie's Story

At 30 years old I felt the lump on my left breast. 2 1/2 months earlier I had been told after ultrasound that it was just a clogged milk duct, nothing to worry about. My daughter was 10 months old at the time and I had finished breastfeeding her a few months before that. My other children were 10 and 6 year old twins. After feeling the lump transform from a smooth almond shaped lump to an irregular large mass I knew this was no clogged duct. I returned to the doctor, was referred to a surgeon and was scheduled for lumpectomy. A week later came the lifechanging news...invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3, hormone +. It was a shock to the core of me. I couldnt breathe for what seemed to be forever. I was falling apart inside as I stared at the surgeon read my pathology report. There really are no words to describe the emotions unless you've been through it. 5 years before my own diagnosis my mother lost her battle with breast cancer. She was only 55 years old. I was flooded with worry that it had come to steal my life as well. The next few weeks were a blur of office visits, scans, blood work, and surgery. Although there was cancer in my lymph nodes it had not spread to the rest of my body. Thank you God!! 6 months of chemo, then 35 rounds of radiation. Almost exactly a year after the diagnosis I am extremely proud to say I am cancer free!! I am finally at the point in my journey where cancer is not the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep. PLEASE never give up hope. Hold Gods hand that is always extended out for you through this journey and have faith that you will not only live but live a wonderful life!

Angie Martinez
Gonzales, TX